Guesnes walks

In the heart of the Scevolles Forest and starting from the Étang de Guesnes, three trails, developed and signposted by the Communauté de Communes du Loudunais, are open to the public (except during January). The route described here is the longest of the three. It winds through the forest, allowing you to discover the diversity of its tree populations. Numerous information boards line this route, which is ideal for children or anyone with a curiosity about nature.

A short hike mainly through fields, discovering a beautiful Romanesque church (later remodelled) and a beautiful Renaissance castle. There are a few views of the countryside.

A walk mainly through fields, offering sweeping views of the countryside. There is no shortage of heritage sites, including a church, a manor house and some beautiful houses.

A mainly woodland walk, offering the benefit of shade from a variety of trees. It largely follows the "Sentier des Sables et des Terres Blanches", designed and signposted by the Loudunais Community of Communes.

A heritage hike in the countryside and woods of Haut Poitou with two Renaissance-style castles up close and a Romanesque church. Route designed and marked by the Vienne departmental committee of the FFRP.

Through fields and woods, a peaceful circular route that takes in two small castles and a beautiful dovecote. Route designed and signposted by the Grand Châtellerault Tourist Office, and certified by the Vienne departmental committee of the FFRP.

With its many panoramic views of the villages, the pretty surrounding hamlets and its paths that are by turns wooded and undulating, this route certainly lives up to its name.

A short walk along field paths, forest trails and small roads, taking in a Neolithic polishing stone, a few cave dwellings and a beautiful church. This hike partly follows a route designed and marked out by the Grand Châtellerault Tourist Office.

A hike dominated by water, mostly along the various branches of the Dive river and in the shade of poplar trees. The route was designed and marked out by the Loudunais Community of Communes and certified by the Vienne departmental committee of the FFRP (French Federation of Hiking and Rambling).

A hike mainly through fields, with two beautiful heritage sites, the Collegiate Church of Saint-Georges (12th century) at the start and a dovecote a little over halfway along the route. There are some beautiful views along the way.

A short walk, mostly in the forest, on the edge of the Parc de Richelieu and alongside the Veude river.

An easy hike that mainly takes place amongst cultivated fields and vineyard plots on the hillsides. The church in Lencloître adds a superb touch of heritage. Route designed and signposted by the Grand Châtellerault Tourist Office, under the name "Entre Vignes et Jardins" and number 24.

This walk takes you through the Moulin Pochas falun site, which was used as a sandpit, and then continues with a short stroll across the plain through the fields. The site is not really a mill in the usual sense (such as a flour mill), but rather an ancient natural geological site consisting of falunières – quarries of ancient marine deposits (clay-sand cliffs known as faluns) – dating back some 15 million years. It is a unique testament in Poitou to the era when a shallow sea (the Mer des Faluns) covered the region. The site consists of ancient shell sand quarries containing marine fossils such as shells, corals, etc.

On the border between Poitou and Touraine, this route takes you to several dolmens and a "mound" where large slabs were gathered by our Neolithic ancestors. The hike alternates between fields and woodland and passes through pretty villages with beautiful tuffeau stone houses and troglodyte cellars. Route designed and marked by the Loudunais Community of Communes.

A short walk, through fields and in the shade of poplars, discovering gentle landscapes and some lovely heritage buildings.

A beautiful hike through the Touraine countryside, where fields alternate with woods, culminating in a pond where many birds nest.

A peaceful walk along the Veude river, then up the hillsides for a panoramic view, before visiting the remarkable Saint-Louis Chapel.

Starting from a Gallo-Roman bridge, enjoy a pleasant walk along the Canal de la Dive, a beautiful old church, a keep, a vineyard conservatory and a passage through the woods. Most of the route was designed and marked out by the Loudunais Community of Communes and certified by the Vienne departmental committee of the FFRP (French Federation of Hiking and Rambling).

A stone’s throw from the Cité du Cardinal, a short walk through the Richelais vineyards. The walk offers a varied route through the vineyards, through the woods or across the fields.

On the southern edge of the Chinon vineyards, the route alternates between fields, woods and pretty hamlets. The church at Ligré, a well-preserved Neolithic dolmen and a Renaissance castle add superb heritage highlights to this walk.

Route proposed by the municipality of Jaunay-Marigny and certified by the Vienne Departmental Hiking Committee. A route exploring the troglodytic landscapes, created by the exploitation of the Tuffeau quarries, with beautiful views over the Envigne valley. The route is marked in green, starting from the Marigny-Brizay town hall.

A circular route in the heart of the Loudunais vineyards (AOP Saumur) and along the canalised Dive river. You can enjoy a beautiful panorama from the ruins of a windmill, pass through pretty villages with troglodyte cellars and walk past the foot of an ancient fortified castle with moats that are still visible. Route designed and marked by the Loudunais Community of Communes, and certified by the Vienne departmental committee of the FFRP (French Federation of Hiking and Rambling).